Vol. 504 No. 2
283 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if Ireland has introduced legislation to ratify the International War Crimes Tribunal approved at a United Nations convention in Rome last year and which must be ratified by 60 countries before it comes into effect. [11340/99]
I assume the Deputy is referring to the statute for the establishment of the International Criminal Court which was adopted at the conclusion of a United Nations diplomatic conference in Rome on 17 July 1998. Ireland signed the statute on 7 October 1998.
The statute is a long and complex document which includes 13 parts and 128 articles in respect of which no reservation is permitted. A detailed examination of the statute by my Department in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General is necessary before the legislation, required to enable Ireland to ratify the statute, can be brought forward. The timetable for the conclusion of this examination will be subject to the disposal of current legislative priorities. My
proposals for legislation will be announced in the normal way in due course.
